About our correspondent: An ex-banker turned realtor, Mariana was born and raised in Bulgaria and credits her creativity, accent and sense of humour to her Eastern European heritage. She is a full time wheeler and dealer at the Boutique firm known as PSR Brokerage in Toronto.
Pictures by Mitch Service (@416Shooter)
Article taken from towertrip.com
An Ode to South Hill, Yorkville’s Side Chick in Toronto
In Toronto, we like to throw names around, pure and unadulterated name-dropping. Whether it’s name-dropping people, name-dropping restaurants, even name-dropping ‘hoods… We’re all dropping names like it’s hot. South Hill is a name rarely dropped because most people don’t know what it means. I am on a modest mission to change that.
This perfect slice of a neighbourhood is magically located between (often imitated and duplicated) heavy hitters such as Forrest Hill, The Annex, and – of course – Yorkville (thanks, Drizzy Drake). Characterized by her gentle glances looking down from her stop on top of the hill, the Queen of Toronto, Casa Loma, is always in the background, always in her perfect glory. The lush greenery and landscape art showcased in the spring and summer months grace the plethora of historical properties that can be found in abundance in South Hill. It is one of the of the oldest neighbourhoods in the city, by the way, with roots stemming from the Rathnelly house built in 1830 by William McMaster in the south-eastern section of the area.
It is a neighbourhood so tightly woven by true aristocrats, rich hippies, a healthy mix of young bucks (aka university students), the ‘Who’s-Who’ of designers, dentists and developers, and about half of my closest friends. There is a ‘feel-good’ feel here; a balance of health, work, and adventure, most commonly found in the two most popular activities in the Hill, which are running up the Casa Loma stairs, followed by a balancing act of drinking a beer or two at the Pour House.
This neighbourhood likes to socialize on a face-to-face basis, which is refreshing. There is also a sense of tradition and familiarity, but it is always organic and never dogmatic (see what I did there). Businesses don’t just come and go; they stay.
South Hill is the place where Yorkville-ites migrate because Yorkville has become congested with new condo developments and the Hill is still close enough to Whole foods and Equinox, but a safe distance from the maddening crowd of suburban invasion that occurs every weekend (try and find a table at Nespresso, I dare you). Or get frazzled at Sassafraz. Don’t get it twisted, most homes in South Hill will cost you a pretty penny and definitely warrant a certain type of wallet, but the attitude is pure and unassuming. No stuffiness, no dead fish handshakes.
So why is South Hill such a gem?
Dogs, pubs, high end furniture stores, cool graffiti, parks, ten tennis courts, an annual Great Gatsby themed neighbourhood bash, and of course, Rose and Sons and Ezra’s Pound. “Good Vibes Only” is the neighbourhood mantra and the transcendent friendliness is truly palatable.
Owner and celebrity chef, Anthony Rose of Rose and Sons (and Big Crow, which is located right behind it) has created a no-BS place for all of us to enjoy some delicious food at any hour without breaking the bank, all while tapping your feet to some good ‘ole country tunes.
Ezra’s Pound, one of the OG’s in the burgeoning coffee culture scene in Toronto, finds its home right on Dupont Street. Ezra’s just celebrated their ten-year anniversary and it’s clear that the love they share with their patrons, as well as their permanent foothold in the neighbourhood, is forever. The place has its own magic – less than 600 square feet of it – where cozy is the new black and the (literal) shoulder rubbing is never awkward, it is the norm.
So what does the future hold for this flourishing neighbourhood? The attraction for development is obvious, but how these plans are executed is even more important. The city is working closely with developers to ensure that new interest in the area does not alter the charm of South Hill.
One such project is 346 Davenport, proudly presented by Freed Developments and PSR Brokerage. This luxurious project features thirty-five units total, catering to the true lovers and connoisseurs of the neighbourhood. Residents of South Hill will appreciate the careful approach to the vision of the project, which stays true to the roots of the community through its elegance and design. And for those who go gaga for bathrooms and cuckoo for kitchens, the custom Poliform cabinetry will rock your world.
It’s a well know fact that Davenport Street is the million dollar baby of Toronto, with each project along her curves boasting the most highly coveted and high-end boutique-style residences at an entry price point of around one million dollars. Calling South Hill home is a lifestyle that never goes out of style.
Are you sold now?
